Multifaceted Solution Helps Companies Around the Globe Work Smarter

SYDNEY, Australia – 13 October 2008 - Global enterprises know that collaboration is a key to greater productivity and efficiency. While enabling corporate users to collaborate more easily can be challenging in today’s fast-paced workplace, a new Verizon Business managed service can help.

Verizon Business today unveiled a new managed unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) solution, becoming the first major U.S.-based service provider to offer the Cisco Unified Communications Manager 6.1 platform to customers around the world. The new offering is aimed at helping companies enhance collaboration and productivity among mobile workforces and the extended enterprise – suppliers, partners, customers and employees.

The new managed platform enables workers seamlessly to integrate communications tools such as voice mail, e-mail and instant messaging. It also allows corporate information technology (IT) departments to out-task the complex operations often associated with the day-to-day management of UC&C solutions.

“Today’s enterprise is faced with many new challenges, including how to enable employee productivity, do more with less and be environmentally responsible,” said Nancy Gofus, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Verizon Business. “Unified communications helps companies address these issues, enabling them to fully realise the power of their Internet protocol networks as they deliver advanced IP-enabled applications.”

[NOTE: An audio podcast explaining the growing interest in UC&C and how it can help enterprises enhance productivity is available here.]

Managed Service Support for Cisco Unified Communications Manager 6.1

The new offering is available immediately to customers in the U.S. and many European countries, and a launch is planned in the Asia-Pacific region early next year. The offering will enable a consistent user experience through reliable productivity-enhancing applications, including:

· Unified Messaging – Integrates voice mail and e-mail and delivers greater efficiency for corporate end users by enabling one-source access to voice and data messages.

· Unified Mobility – Offers employees a single phone number and business voice-mail box. Employees can receive calls wherever it is convenient, and make outgoing calls that appear with the user’s assigned business phone numbers.

· Unified Presence – Delivers visibility into a user’s availability to chat by phone or instant messaging.

Among the first Verizon Business customers to take advantage of managed unified communications is Del Monte Foods, one of the largest and best-known producers, distributors and marketers of premium quality, branded food and pet products in the U.S. Del Monte has deployed the new Verizon Business managed service to enhance enterprise wide productivity and has plans to leverage this platform to support the company’s internal contact centre needs.

“Del Monte recognised the benefits unified communications plays in enhancing collaboration among our employees, suppliers and partners and in helping us to be more competitive in the marketplace,” said Dennis Tokarski, manager of telecommunications and network operations, Del Monte Foods. “However, we also understand the complexities of deploying and managing unified communications, and that’s why we turned to Verizon Business to provide expert technical service and support to ensure the smooth operation of our critical communications infrastructure.”

"Verizon Business is taking a leading role in expanding its managed services capabilities to include unified communications and collaboration," said Amy DeCarlo, principal analyst – Internet/Managed Services, Current Analysis. "While the benefits of UC&C are becoming increasingly more attractive to enterprises, many organisations struggle with the complexities of deployment and day-to-day monitoring and management. Verizon Business' management of UC&C will help businesses tap into the power of UC&C to better their bottom lines through enhanced employee productivity, information sharing and accelerated decision making.

Gofus added, “Verizon Business’ experience in managing IP environments, coupled with our professional services capabilities and expertise in integrating advanced IT applications, place us in the best position to help customers navigate the complexities associated with designing, deploying and managing UC&C strategies and related products and services.”

With this offering, Verizon Business is expanding its comprehensive portfolio of advanced collaboration services, including Integrated Communications Package and PBX Mobile Extension, which can be leveraged with the company’s leading voice-over-IP (VoIP) portfolio to create a flexible unified communications and collaboration framework. Using its global IP network as the foundation, Verizon Business offers conferencing, mobility, VoIP, contact center, and managed and hosted services, as well as professional services capabilities to help customers maintain the performance and security of their communications networks and advanced IP-enabled applications.

- ENDS -

For further information or presentation materials from the event, please contact:

Gabriel Wong

Max Australia

Tel: 9954 3492

Email: gabriel.wong@maxaustralia.com.au

About Verizon Business

Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), operates the world's most connected public IP network and uses its industry-leading global-network capabilities to offer large-business and government customers an unmatched combination of security, reliability and speed. The company integrates advanced IP communications and information technology (IT) products and services to deliver leading enterprise solutions including managed services, security, mobility, collaboration and professional services. These solutions power innovation and enable the company’s customers to do business better. For more information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com.

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